Federal grant funds are being provided to school districts through the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) program. The goal of the funding has been to address needs as a result of the global pandemic. The ESSER I grant funding was announced in the early stages of the pandemic and primarily paid for technology purchases and personal protective equipment.
Duncanville ISD is currently in the process of submitting for the ESSER III grant by the end of July. With guidance from the board, district leaders have identified areas to apply much of that grant. The priorities will be to address the learning loss of students during the pandemic and compensation priorities for staff.
A priority is to hire and retain high quality teachers in Duncanville ISD. Five areas being addressed include:
● Hire GAP teachers and / or tutors (gaining and growing academic performance)
● Increased signing bonuses and stipends for hard-to-fill areas (bilingual and special education, as well as grades seven through 12 in mathematics, foreign language, sciences, Career and Technical Education, History, and English I and II)
● Extend teacher hiring schedule to 30+ years with adjustments
● Increase bilingual teacher signing and annual stipends
● Implement a 3-year plan for requiring ESL certifications for All ELAR Teachers (K-12)
Another area of staffing priority is ensuring students have access to school and safety supports when they arrive.
● Increase hourly rate of bus drivers
● Add bus driver signing bonus and retention stipends
● Provide registered or licensed nurses at all campuses
● Increase Registered Nurses Days to 192 Days
To view the updated incentives and benefits for Duncanville ISD for the 2021-2022 school year, click here.
